Myriad, Sanofi Forge Potentially $10M Diabetes Collab

Myriad RBM, a subsidiary of Myriad Genetics, entered a research collaboration with Sanofi and Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) at Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University through which they will perform protein biomarker research for the Outcome Reduction with Initial Glargine Intervention (ORIGIN) study, a randomized clinical trial in pre- and early diabetes. This collaboration could represent up to $10 million in companion diagnostic service revenue for Myriad over the next two fiscal years.

Myriad RBM will analyze over 8,000 serum samples collected in the ORIGIN study using its DiscoveryMAP® 250+ quantitative immunoassay panel. Sanofi conceived of the application of Myriad RBM's technology to ORIGIN with a goal of identifying biomarker profiles that may optimize treatment and improve patient care. The relationship between the biomarker results and clinical outcomes will be analyzed by investigators at PHRI.

"We believe this collaboration will result in better care for millions of patients with diabetes, a global epidemic that remains a critical unmet medical need," says Craig Benson, president of Myriad RBM.

Funded by Sanofi and directed and managed by PHRI, ORIGIN is a six-year cardiovascular (CV) outcomes trial that evaluated Lantus® (insulin glargine) versus standard care in over 12,500 individuals at high CV risk with prediabetes or early type 2 diabetes mellitus. The clinical trial spanned 40 countries worldwide.

"This biomarker project using DiscoveryMAP is a logical extension of the landmark ORIGIN study," says Matt McQueen, Sc.D., research laboratory director at PHRI. "The measurement of hundreds of relevant proteins in metabolic, inflammatory, and other important pathways has the potential to improve treatment protocols for diabetes."

Myriad picked up its DiscoveryMAP technology through its $80 million acquisition of Rules-Based Medicine in April of 2011.